Boys Sprint Events
60m and 200m
The boys sprints will be loaded. It could take 7.00 or perhaps even faster just to make it to the finals as several boys in the event have already run under that mark. It could take sub 22.0 to make the 200m finals.
The first runner we'll make a note of is Iliya Dryaba. The Woodlands, Texas sprinter currently ranks US No. 1 in the 400m with his 48.49 that he ran back on December 11th. It takes good speed to be a good quarter miler and we'll find out how much Dryaba has.
Arveyon Davis (Fort Bend Marshall, TX) is known for his hurdling, but he has some flat out speed. Davis ran 7.0 last year and will be attempting the sprint/hurdle double.
Also entered are Kansas junior, Carson Miller (DeSoto, KS) who ran 6.99 last year as a sophomore, Kedarius Jones (Whitehaven, TN) who ran 6.98 this year at the Galleria Games, and then there is Tavon Underwood (Mead, CO) ran 6.98 this year.
That's where the super speed comes into play.
Jahson Gordon (Newton, GA) ran 6.96 at the Galleria Games, there is the Kansas state champion in the 100m and 200m Isaiah Bates (Pleasanton, KS) ran 6.94 last weekend at the Prentice Gudgen Invitational, and Eli England (Richmond Foster, TX) who ran 60m at the LSU Inv where he won the event in US No. 16 6.91.
Ashton Torns (Austin Westlake, TX) and Jelani Watkins (Klein Forest, TX) haven't raced yet in the 2023 season, but they have stud performances from last year. Torns ran 6.85 last year, tied for US No. 10. He will also run in the 200m and compete in the long jump. Watkins ran 6.94 and 21.50 PRs last indoor season.
60 Meter Hurdles
We mentioned Arveyon Davis in the 60m, but expect that to be his warm-up. His premiere events are the hurdles. He is the returning third place finisher in the 110H (13.78) and fourth place finisher in the 300H (37.21) at the Texas UIL 5A state meet. He's also the US No. 6 returner in the 60H from last season when he ran 7.91.
There is a lot more hurdle talent in the boys field.
Also watch out for Josh Parrish (Olathe North, KS) who ran 8.16 last weekend at the Prentice Gudgen Invitational, Cameron Jackson (Spring, TX), a top-30 returner who ran 8.21 last year and has already run 8.29 in December, and Alex Ornelas (Langham Creek, TX) who ran 8.29 last year.
400m
The 400m event is always a loaded one at the Arkansas HS Inv. We previously brought up the Coloradoan Tavon Underwood in the short sprint section. He is in the 60m, but his ranked US No. 5 in the 400m with his 48.74 PR. Like Underwood, Georgian, Jahson Gordon is in the 60m and the 400m. Gordon ran 49.20 at the Galleria Games last month.
Another top entry is Arkansan James Hunter (Parkview, AR). He ran 49.10 last year and already dropped a 49.71 on December 4th at the SEAAU Inv. Another guy who is already on the board this year is Kaleb Conway (Memphis, TN) who ran 50.04 at KYA HS Indoor Classic last week
Don't overlook sophomore Jonathan Simms (Allen, TX) who is legit. He was the No. 2 freshman in the country last outdoor season with his 47.68.
Boys Distance Events
800m
The boys 800m is another annually tough event at the Arkansas HS Inv. This year will be just as strong as the past.
Dawson Welch (Har-Ber,AR) was one of the top indoor half milers last year. He ran 1:53.50 at the Nike indoor Nationals. The University of Tennessee commit is also a strong miler with a 4:24 1,600m PR and a 4:08 mile PR.
Landon Kempema (Austin Vandegrift, TX) ran 1:57.63 indoors last year. He should be ready to go sub 2:00 this weekend.
Julian Carter II (Marion, AR) Is one guy who is already on the board for the 2023 season with the US No. 6 mark of 1:55.45.
Mile
This could be a barn burner type race and the Arkansas boys could defend their turf.
We already mentioned Welch and his 800m capabilities; well, the guy is also a stud miler. He ran 4:10 1600 at the Texas Distance Festival and 4:08 in the mile at HOKA Festival of Miles.
Fellow Arkansan, Sam Boyer (Rogers Heritage, AR) should be one of the leaders in the fast heat. He ran 4:22 indoors last year and 4:15 outside.
One of the top out of state competitors should be Ethan Stovall (Oklahoma Christian, OK). The Oklahoma State University commit ran 4:15 mile outdoors at the RunningLane Track Championships.
Also expect Josh Cherry (Edmond Memorial , OK) who ran 4:17 outdoors, William Carlson (Lovejoy, TX) 4:20 outdoors last year, and Preston Sanderville (Austin Westwood, TX) who ran 4:19 outdoors all to compete.
3000m
Last year's fourth place finisher, Riley Nedrow (Boyd, TX), is the top returner from last year's race. He ran 8:55, and we should expect him to be in the mix and ready to run faster based off his improvements from the cross country season.
James American Horse (Bentonville, AR) had an impressive and fast cross country season as well. He had a 15:21 SB and was third at the Arkansas state meet. We could possibly see a re-match with him and Caden Thurman, (Wolfe City, TX) as they ran toe to toe at the finish at the Garmin MileSplit TX XC Invitational, back in September, only to be separated by 0.10.
Brody Woodcock (Deer Creek, OK) was having a fine cross country season, but he didn't have the Oklahoma state cross country meet he expected at the end the fall. He did run a 15:21 SB, so expect him to open up with a confidence booster race.
Angel Sanchez (Fort Worth Diamond Hills-Jarvis HS, TX) is listed to compete in the 3,000m. He is the Texas UIL 4A state champion in the 1,600m and the runner-up in the 3,200m. He recently won the UIL 4A cross country state championship and was a finisher at the Champs National Cross Country Championships last month. He is a front runner, so expect him to push the pace.
Boys Field Events
High Jump
You'll want to keep a watch for two specific jumpers. Hometown boy Cooper Williams (Fayetteville, AR) jumped 6-6 last indoor season, and went 6-10 last year during the outdoor season. He is showing good form and hops this year as he already cleared the 6-8 bar last weekend for a US No. 3 mark.
Colston Adamson (Lucas Lovejoy, TX) has been putting in the work this off season in all jumps categories. He has an outdoor PR of 6-6 and could get that high this weekend.
Pole Vault
The pole vault event is always stacked at the Arkansas HS Inv.; the runway is great and the competition usually takes advantage of it.
Expect Mississippian John Scott Kendricks (Oxford, MS) to do just that. Last weekend, he jumped 16-5.25 at the LSU High School Classic. That's good for a US No. 4 ranking; expect him to be like the band Creed and take it higher!
Cade Dewitt (Bentonville West, AR) is familiar with the runways in Fayetteville, and he is another nationally ranked vaulter. He cleared the 16-0.75 bar back in October and could be ready to climb bars as well.
Long Jump
This will be an intriguing match-up. There some guys that will be in this weekend's event who can really fly.
The US No. 1 ranked long jumper Zavien Wolfe (Memphis Central, TN) skied for a 24-5.25 and is in this competition. He didn't have the type of jump at last year's meet that he would have wanted, so expect him to be motivated.
Last year's meet winner, Ashton Torns (Austin Westlake, TX) is second best returner nationally. Torns was indoor's US No. 2 best jumper last year with a 24-3.5 jump at NB Indoor Nationals. He jumped 23-7.5 to win this meet in 2022, but it could take a much further jump this year.
Triple Jump
Zavien Wolfe can triple jump just as well as he can long jump. He holds the US No. 3 best mark so far this season with a 49-1.75 at The Galleria Games in December. A month later, we could see him really pop a good one.
T-Aunt Robinson (Mansfield Lake Ridge, TX) will be one of the many challengers to Wolfe in this weekend's field. He jumped a 45-9 PR last year and should be good and warmed up for this weekend's event.
Shot Put
The strongest boys in the house will be at the shot put ring. Some of the boys will be getting their first throws of the season, but others will be looking to improve on the season.
Hayden Dixon from Missouri has already thrown a US No. 5 with a 60-0 toss back in December, which is just off his outdoor PR. Look for the University of Missouri commit to throw some bombs this weekend.
Brooks Young (Fayetteville, AR) is a local that will definitely give Dixon and the other boys a competition. He has tossed a 54-6.25 SB already this season.